Although only a few days after a draw against Tottenham claimed that his team is still in play for the title, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas on Monday changed his story …

“It’s pretty difficult. The distance could be very, very difficult to challenge for this Premiership. It would have been a good December to get six points from home games [against Fulham and Aston Villa],” he added.
“But bearing in mind this draw and the fact that Manchester City and [Manchester] United will do their jobs, it makes it difficult.

“We reduced gap not too long ago to seven points, but 13 [if City beat West Brom on Monday] is something new to us and you have to be fair to say if they [City and United] continue to get points the way they are it makes it difficult.

“Maybe the Premiership is over for us at the moment. You have to be realistic. You cannot have false expectancy over 13 points.”